Home Help: 3 efficient ways to water your garden

During the hottest days of the year, the success of your garden depends on how well you water it. To make the most of every drop, follow these tips from anoregoncottage.com:

* Use a soaker hose. Let this hose soak the ground in your garden bed for 2-4 hours every 5-7 days. Check your soil periodically. If it is moist 1 inch deep, you are using enough water.

* Apply newspaper, cardboard or mulch. Place five to eight layers of newspaper — or one layer of cardboard — on the ground, then apply your soaker hose and cover it all with mulch. This will make your soaker hose more efficient.

* Bigger is better. When planting flowers and plants, use the largest pots possible. Larger pots hold more soil and thus more water, making for less frequent watering sessions.

WATER

Are we paying fair price for water?

Each year more than 240,000 water mains break, wasting 12 percent of the nation’s water. As the infrastructure system continues to age, that percentage stands to grow.

A survey by water utility pump manufacturer Grundfos for the Who Runs the Water that Runs America Initiative finds 50 percent of Americans believe they’re paying a fair price for water. Only 2 percent report they should pay more when comparing their water use to their bill.

Those in the utility sector tell a different story, with 70 percent reporting they aren’t generating enough revenue to cover their costs and fund infrastructure improvements. To learn more about the situation in your area, contact your local utility.

PEST CONTROL

4 steps to combat buzzing pests

Everyone gets a fly or two in the house. But if too many houseflies are buzzing around, follow these tips from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension:

* Because flies lay eggs on organic waste, it’s important to immediately clean up any food scraps and residue, as well as pet waste. Make sure garbage bags containing waste are tightly tied, leaving no openings.

* Check screens for holes, and examine windows for any gaps and cracks that could be letting in flies (as well as other critters).

* Hang flypaper in infested areas where there is little to no air movement, within 6 feet of the ground.

* If needed, insecticides can help suppress housefly populations. Be sure to read and follow the instructions on the label.

AGING IN PLACE

Bathroom remodeling tips to make your home safer

According to Gold Medal Service, a home plumbing, heating, cooling, electric service company, there are many things homeowners can do to adapt their bathroom so it is safer for anyone with limited mobility. One tip is, in a house with multiple levels, focus on the main floor being on the same level as a person with limited mobility’s bedroom.

Having to climb stairs every time they need to use the bathroom is challenging for individuals with limited mobility and presents an increased risk of injury from falls. Homeowners should also install non-slip tiles and get rid of loose rugs. While walk-in tubs are ideal, a seating area in a shower is also a good feature and surfaces in the tub/shower should also be non-slip.